Mario Bauza, Frank Davila, Ed Medina, Bobby Woodlin, trumpet; Eddie
Bert, Vern Friley, Fred Vito, trombone; Lenny Hambro, Gene Johnson,
Leslie Johnakins, Jose Madera, Freddie Skerritt, saxophones; Rene
Hernandez, piano; Bobby Rodriguez, Jose Mangual, bongos; Luis Miranda,
conga; Machito, maracas; Ubaldo Nieto, timbales; Mario Bauza, musical
director.
Vocals, Machito, The Skylarks, Graciela, Los Hermanos Rgual
Track 9 featuring Mitch Miller - Oboe.
1. Holiday Mambo
2. Donde Estebas Tu
3. Carambola
4. Ay Que Mate
5. Mambo A La Savoy
6. Que Me Falta
7. Amalia Las Invita
8. Bongo Fiesta
9. Oboe Mambo
10. Contigo En La Distancia
11. Freezelandia
12. Hay Que Recordar
13. Sambia
14. Bee-Ree-Bee-Kym-Bee
15. Si Si No No
16. Mambo Inn
17. Negro Nanamboro
18. Adios
19. Bella Mora
20. Mambo Mucho Mambo
The Machito Afro Cuban Orchestra was probably
one of the most significant early influences on Latin Jazz. Dizzy Gillespie
was certainly very aware of the music of this band and always admitted
to being an admirer of the work of Mario Bauza ( the band's musical
director ). On listening to these recordings one can clearly hear much
of the style which Gillespie adapted for his own big band. Apparently
he was a regular " sitter - in " with this type of orchestra
when he was in New York and subsequently became quite an accomplished
percussionist in his own right. Gillespie, along with Charlie Parker,
also recorded with Machito but their collaborations do not appear on
this compilation.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of these recordings is the immense
swing and openness of feel generated by this ensemble. Other contemporary
Latin organisations seem much more restricted by the rhythmic patterns
inherent in this type of music. Much of this, of course, is due
to the ground breaking arranging techniques employed by Mario Bauza.
His use of complex unison passages in the brass is a most exciting
device and was certainly influential on Gillespie's big band and
was also reflected in some of the orchestrations used by Duke Ellington
in his attempts to cash in on the Mambo craze from around this time.
Within the strictures of the idiom there is great variety contained
in the numbers presented here. There are mambo type pieces as well
as the bolero ( "Contigo En La Distancia") and more gentle
numbers in a ballad style. According to the liner notes "Mambo
Inn" became the national anthem of mambo music. "Oboe
Mambo " features Mitch Miller on the instrument named in the
title - his career must have been of great divergence at this time
as he was the oboe player and musical director for the string ensemble
which played and recorded with Charlie Parker during this era.
"Holiday Mambo " is in fact based on "Hava Nagila"
and " Mambo A La Savoy " is a variation on " Stomping
At The Savoy". The vocals on most selections are never less
than interesting and some are quite humorous in the manner of their
delivery. There are improvised solos on many of these pieces, but
it is the ensemble work that is the significant feature of these
recordings. This disc is great fun !
Dick Stafford
CD Reviews
SONY 5086702
